As CEO of one of the nation's largest family owned businesses, Chick-fil-A's Dan Cathy represents the next generation of leadership for the Atlanta-based fast-food chicken restaurant chain founded by his father, S. Truett Cathy. Eager to incorporate his own skills and talents into the business, Dan has taken an unconventional, yet personally and professionally rewarding approach to Chick-fil-A leadership.

Dan was named Chairman, President and CEO, by his father in 2013. Since 2001, Dan has served as the president and chief operating officer of the nearly 1,900 unit chain, but he also has personally challenged himself with upholding Chick-fil-A’s efforts to provide genuine, heartfelt hospitality, and ensuring that customers chain wide have an exceptional dining experience when visiting a Chick-fil-A restaurant. In his quest to provide customers with “second-mile” service (exceeding even the highest expectations of a typical fast-food restaurant), Dan has defined a special role for himself – humbly saying, “I work in customer service.”

Rather than leading from his corporate office in Atlanta, Dan chooses to spend the majority of his time traveling to the chain’s growing family of restaurants and interacting with Chick-fil-A’s committed team of restaurant Operators and team members. His actions stem from a belief that working in the field provides a clearer understanding of the ever evolving wants and needs of Chick-fil-A customers, and leading from the front line also enables him to personally convey his servant spirit to the chain’s 70,000-plus employees.

The majority of his travels include participating in grand opening ceremonies for new Chick-fil-A restaurants. In yet another example of how he keeps in tune with customers and employees, Dan attended numerous restaurant openings last year, spending the night in restaurant parking lots along with hundreds of customers who were vying for a chance to win free Chick-fil-A food for a year as part of a special customer-focused promotion the chain conducts in conjunction with new restaurant openings. Reflecting on these experiences, Dan notes, “I’m having the most fun I have ever had at Chick-fil-A.”

Several major marketplace awards have affirmed the commitment and performance of Chick-fil-A Operators and team members. In the 2014 Glassdoor Employee’s Choice Awards, Chick-fil-A ranked among the top 50 Best Places to Work in the nation. Forbes ranked Chick-fil-A as the 4th most inspiring company in the country following a survey of more than 2,000 consumers evaluating 25 companies. In Temkin Research 2013 Customer Service Survey, Chick-fil-A ranked first in its category and 6th overall in a survey of 10,000 consumers who rated their most recent customer service experience with 235 companies across 19 industries. Chick-fil-A was also the only chain out of 52 measured to rank in the top five of all six key categories measured by Technomic’s 2012 Customer Restaurant Brand Metrics study which polled 38,000 consumers.

Dan's career at Chick-fil-A began at age 9 as he sang songs for customers and did radio commercials for the chain's original "Dwarf House" restaurant in Hapeville, Ga.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Georgia Southern University, Dan returned to Chick-fil-A where he served as director of operations – opening more than 50 new Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout the country.

As Chick-fil-A continued to grow, so did Dan's responsibilities with the company. He has served as senior director of operations, vice president of operations and executive vice president prior to being named president and chief operating officer.

As dedicated to Chick-fil-A as he is, Dan also finds time to give generously of his time and efforts in the community. Following is just a partial list of his awards, affiliations and associations:

Member, Board of Trustees, Berry College

Honorary Member (2012), Berry Alumni Association

Member, Board of Trustees, Morehouse College

Member, Board of Advisors, Eagle Ranch

Member, Board of Advisors, Advisory Board, Global Teen Challenge

Executive Member, National Advisory Board, Lead Like Jesus

Member, Board of Councilors, The Carter Center

Member, The New Hope Baptist Church (and trumpet player in the church band)

Sunday School Teacher, 12th Grade Boys - Youth teacher for (40) years

Member, Metro Atlanta Board of Directors, Chamber of Commerce

Member, The Jenkins Clinic, Board of Directors, Vice Chairman

Advisory Board, Heritage Preparatory School

Recipient of the Outstanding American Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame - 2003

Recipient of the Zig Ziglar Servant Leadership Award - 2013

Recipient of the Champion of Community Empowerment Award - Urban League of Greater Atlanta – 2013

Recipient of Passkeys Foundation Leaders of Integrity Awards, American Life: Business - 2014

Honorary Doctorate Degree from the State University of West Georgia, Anderson College and Carver Bible College

Honorary Doctorate of Humanities Degree from Anderson College - 2005

Honorary Doctorate from HBCA Entrepreneur Summit

Honorary Doctorate, Law Degree, Pepperdine University - 2011

And in his "spare" time, Dan earned his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) license and has completed numerous marathons in Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles, Boston and New York. Additionally, Dan is a passionate trumpet player, gardener and an avid motorcyclist.

A native of Jonesboro, Ga., Dan has been married to the former Rhonda Palmer (whom he met while in the 1st grade at age 6) for more than 40 years. He has two sons, Andrew, Vice President of People at Chick-fil-A and Ross, Owner/Operator of the Midland, Ga., Chick-fil-A restaurant, as well as two grandchildren.

His personal passion is to see the fulfillment of the Chick-fil-A Corporate Purpose: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”